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Village by the Grange
Category: Shopping Shopping Centres Shopping Centres [Edit]
53 McCaul StToronto, ON M5T 2W9
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
(416) 599-5797
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
6 reviews for Village by the Grange
6 reviews in English
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Review from Mel M.
6/4/2010
In the area? Like food? Are you with a large group of people who all want something different?
Come here. Seriously. With at least 20 different eateries to choose from you can't go wrong.
I have a crush on sandwiches so I decided to check out "Keep Fit". Not only does this little place offer various healthy bread options but they have at least 20 different quality meat, cheese, veggie and spread selections. Once you've created your sandwich master piece they will even grill it panini style. Get the olive spread it is absolutely delicious!
Since this place is near the college the food court gets fairly packed and a bit hot during lunch time so I would recommend getting your food to go and eating at the park across the street. -
Review from Patty L.
North York, ON
2/13/2012
The only reason I come to Villlage by the Grange, is to eat at Manpuku and grab a bubble tea on my way out. It's not a place I would come to deliberately, but it's a quiet place to study on weekends since they don't blast annoying music in the food court area.
It's a quick walk from St. Patrick subway station, and if you're a student, there are lots of budget food options here in the food court, and quite a bit of variety.
There are lots of empty shops, which is a bit depressing, but understandable given the recession and the location of this mall. -
Review from Chris P.
8/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Village by the Grange always brings memories back to me of being a OCAD student. Since OCAD is both across the street and also within the same building as VBTG this was the go-to spot for lunch, snacks, coffee, cigarettes, gum whatever during my time at school. It was a beyond convienient one stop shop! There was this deli I would eat at almost everyday, it served up some really yummy veggie bagel sandwiches were were really cheap, I think like $4 if my memory serves correctly.
Then the day came when it was announced that the McDonald's was moving in. SInce my group and I were 'artists' and we hated anything that anyone else liked we of course hated Mcd's with a passion. We protested against McD's moving in to no end however our voices were drowned out by the hundreds of customers lined up at the McD's everyday. We slipped once again into our world-weary-cigarette-clutching stances. No matter how hard we may have tried, the corporate conformist world would always be there to silence us.
Then we saw a member of our group (who was our group's 'cool guy' since he could chug a pint of beer in one swig with a cigarette still in his mouth--true story) eating at McD's. The ultimate betrayal had occured. Since killing him would be the conformist's choice, we simply labeled him as the "Living Dead' and treated him as though he was a ghost, he was there, but only simply in memory, and we therefore would not answer if he were to speak.
Yes, those indeed were the days.
I still use VBTG as a quick stop in spot for some take out or as a spot to use the bathroom. The bathrooms there are always very clean and well stocked, which is always a plus! -
Review from Toronto L.
Toronto, ON
7/26/2011
The Toronto Lover system:
5 stars = Must visit!
4 stars = Really good. I take my friends here.
3 stars = Somewhat worth it... if you have nowhere better to go.
2 stars = Below average. Attend only when necessary.
1 star = Do not visit!
I have a feeling that, deep down, the Village by the Grange wants to be the St. Lawrence Market. In the same way that every little Timbit hockey player wants to be Sidney Crosby, this collection of food outlets believes that if it closes its eyes, breathes deep, and puts in its best effort, it will someday wear the shoes of its hero.
It's a food court. You can give it a name that makes it sound like a best-selling novel (Oprah recommends: "Village by the Grange",) you can place it next to the AGO, and you can fill it with trendy vegan wraps and frozen yogurt, but it's still a food court.
Forgive me for dwelling on semantics, but the name has always bothered me. First, I believe the word "village" is supposed to conjure up feelings about Soho and Fine Art that will make the local OCAD students and AGO members feel even more artsy when they grab a pork sandwich here. Next, a grange is historically an area that surrounds a farmhouse, but it's also synonymous with a village, so it's sort of like "village by the village." I get that The Grange refers to the nearby historic manor, but I'd be surprised if 1% of people surveyed in this food court even knew what The Grange was.
And don't discount that the McDonald's usually has the longest lineup. Just saying.
Ok, now that I've trashed it, let me also point out: there are a lot of options, and many are cheap, so groups will be satisfied here... if they can find seating.
2 stars -
Review from Tony F.
5/12/2010
One of my BFFs in high school lived around the corner from here, and this was a bit of our hangout joints. I probably haven't been back here since the early 90s. But I was killing some time yesterday and decided to pop into this place for retro sake. Gone was the fake Chinese food restaurant (Ginsburg and Wong) that my cousin had worked in back in the 80s, and pretty much most of the mall that existed here.
However, I was amazed to see probably the best food court in Toronto. It's much more like asian food stalls than mall food courts that we think of in the west. It had everything from a vegetarian specialist, very authentic looking Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Falafels and yes even a McDs. Aside from the McDs, I walked by every stall and inspected carefully and it all looked awesome.
Even more interesting was the "Manpuku" Japanese eatery. It looked like a super cheap but yummie noodle/rice place. I didn't get to try it buts its definitely on the radar now. http://www.yelp.ca/biz... I have a feeling this is one of those hidden gems just waiting to blow up (in a good way). Can't wait to head back.
The Grange brought back lots of memories and made for a lovely surprise to another wise uneventful day.Listed in: Omnomeriffic Yum! (TM)
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Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
1/21/2009
I'm not a fan of food courts. They typically smell, attract a wide assortment of unsavory teenager types, have bottom-of-the-barrel food, and are lit so low I feel death has taken over my soul.
But the Village by the Grange is sooooo different and is actually a delight to visit.
1. More independent food counters. McDonald's seems to be the only Big-C chain in the court. Forgivable, since there are so many other places to choose from.
2. Location. Right by the AGO, Baldwin Street, and OCAD. Makes a nice post-gallery stop if you're in a group and can't decide on a single restaurant.
3. Island Foods! Any food court with Island Foods makes me melt.
4. Artsy Fartsy OCAD kids. Eye candy on one end of the spectrum, oh-my-god-what-did-that-person-do-to-his-hair on the other.
5. BRIGHT! Wow, it feels so summery in here, even in the winter.
TIP: Don't judge the place by its god-awful clothing stores. Walk by swiftly, offer no eye contact, and head straight for the food.
